Have you ever experienced a situation where someone told you that after talking to someone else they needed an explanation on something you had discussed in the past?  I experienced this again today when a patient of mine walked into my office today and informed me that he had just heard from his personal trainer that fusing vertebrae is much better for you than visiting a chiropractor.  Of course I had told him the exact opposite is true (for most situations) and of course I was curious to find out more of what their argument was.

My patient informed me that he didn’t agree with them either, so he spent a little time digging for just the information I was looking for.  The personal trainer had explained that since the fusion permanently affixes the vertebrae to each other, it is a much more stable area.  I can’t argue with that portion of their argument, as nothing is more stable than something that is immovable, but the whole premise that a fusion is always a better idea is completely out of line.

Where chiropractic can provide an advantage here is in keeping the vertebrae mobile.  From what I just said in the last paragraph you might find this a little contradictory, so let me explain myself.  The body was made to move.  As long as it is safe for the body to move (everything is stable and more damage won’t be caused with movement) then the body should be kept in that condition.  This is even the case in many stages of arthritis, where motion in that joint may cause pain.  As long as it isn’t going to cause significant INJURY, I would be hesitant to look at fusion as the answer.

Why do we want to keep the motion in these joints though?  I’m glad you asked.

The body’s joints get their nutrition via a system called imbibition.  This is a process where fluids are sucked into, and pushed out of, the joints with motion.  The process rids the joints of their waste products while bringing much needed nutrients into the tissues that need them for maintenance and repair.  Without this system joint health will be diminished.  It has been hypothesized that this allows chiropractic care to diminish the amount of arthritis that develops in joints, but that, and the controversy around it, are a subject for another blog.

The role of motion doesn’t stop there though.  Each section of the spine (or a joint outside of the spine can work similarly in some cases) plays an important role in the overall movement of the body.  Each section of vertebrae is designed to perform a specific motion.  If you take that motion away, the body will have to make up for the lost range of motion (due to the fused vertebrae) somehow.  To maintain the pre-fusion levels of motion, the joints above and below the fused sections pick up the slack.  Of course these joints aren’t designed for the extra stresses that they are subjected to, and they tend to wear out faster than they normally would.

With this increased wear and tear in those joints, arthritis soon develops.  Sooner or later, a fusion of those segments is often recommended.  This process can continue repeatedly.  Each time another segment is fused, range of motion will again be decreased.  This is why people are often advised to wait as long as they can before seeking a fusion.

Finally, fusions are often very dangerous.  Any surgery that is performed in such a delicate area increases the risks the patient are exposed to.  This is obviously something that should be avoided unless it is absolutely necessary.

So…what are the recommendations that I would give to people to avoid fusions?  Again, I am glad you asked, as there are a few different things that you can do.

First of all, regular chiropractic treatments are a good idea (as long as you don’t have any risk factors that would suggest otherwise, which your chiropractor should be able to direct you on).  Chiropractic’s goal is to maintain motion.  Every adjustment restores motion into a joint that is “out of line”.  Although this is a deceiving term, it just means that the vertebrae isn’t moving correctly (it is not the dislocation that many people imagine it to be).  Once this motion is restored, the joint will be free to perform its duties correctly (which includes the afore mentioned imbibition to keep itself healthy).

Secondly, finding a competent personal trainer is very important.  Being a personal trainer myself, I will attest that motion is necessary for the body.  If every joint would be fused, there would be no motion, and personal trainers would be out of a job.  It really is that simple.  Asking some health professionals and researching your personal trainer’s credentials are an excellent place to start your search. 

The personal trainer you find should be able to help you determine your proper strength ratios, some safe exercises that will help build stability in the proper way (healthy, strong muscles), and even improve your flexibility.  This combination of goals will improve the efficiency with which your body works, and ease the stresses that are placed on your body, and joints, every day.

Finally, if you are having pain, get it checked out.  There are a lot of people that force themselves to perform their daily activities despite pain.  Pain is a warning system the body sends the brain.  It means that something isn’t right, and you should change what you are doing.

As I blogged earlier in the summer, it is important to talk to the right professionals about what is important for your health.  If you are asking for medical advice (like joint fusion), ask a medical professional.  If you are asking how to gain flexibility, any health or fitness professional SHOULD be able to help you. 

Getting advice across multiple specialties is likely to be your best bet, as every profession is going to be a little bit biased.  As the saying goes, “If your only tool is a hammer, everything looks like a nail”.  Once you have all the information, make a sound decision on what is best for you.

Make sure that you find time to get moving today.  It provides us with the ability to do so many things.  It shouldn’t be taken for granted.

 

If you have questions, or would like to discuss this further, please contact me at:

Jeffrey L. Cumro, Doctor of Chiropractic, Certified Personal Trainer
Better Life Chiropractic and Wellness, LLC
          Better Care > Better Health > Better Life
402-210-1472
BetterLifeNE@gmail.com
www.BetterLifeNE.com